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A century of automotive industry experience

100 years serving the auto industry

Zurich celebrates a century of helping U.S. auto dealer customers understand and protect themselves from risk.

January 1, 2022, officially marked the 100th anniversary of Zurich Direct Markets (DM). Our business started as Universal Underwriters Group (UUG) in Kansas City, providing 85 Ford dealers with fire insurance. Over the next 100 years we have grown to be one of the largest Finance & Insurance (F&I) and Property & Casualty (P&C) providers to U.S. Franchised auto dealers.

With 100 years of history, Direct Markets is looking forward. We remain steadfast in our commitment to auto dealers today and into the future. As we have for the past 100 years, we will continue to develop new and innovative products and solutions in collaboration with our customers to thrive in the ever-changing automotive industry.

Here's to another remarkable 100 years!

DP-SpringSummer2022_thumb
  • 1900 - 1949
  • 1950-1999
  • 2000-2019
  • 2020-2022
DM100_1922

Universal Underwriters founded
by the end of 1923, 

986 dealerships 

of one major auto manufacturer were insured 
in 15 states

DM100_1933

Universal Underwriters expands
scope of business to include

dealerships of all brands

DM100_1948

Gross Written Premium reaches

$3,000,000

DM100_1949

Universal Underwriters Insurance Company (UUIC)
formed to offer

liability coverage

man-with-old-autos_600x600
DM100_1965

Universal Underwriters Life Insurance Company (UULIC)
formed to offer

life insurance and F&I products

DM100_1968

Universal Underwriters Group
develops and launches the

first commercial single package policy for auto industry: Unicover®

DM100_1977

Gross Written Premium reaches

$100,000,000

DM100_1982

Universal Underwriters Group
is purchased by

Zurich American Insurance Company

UU-tape-cutting_600x600
DM100_1984

Universal Underwriters Service Corporation (UUSC)
formed to

offer vehicle service contracts and income development services

DM100_1984

Zurich began

writing auto rental policies

through acquisition of Empire Fire and Marine

DM100_1997

Universal Underwriters celebrates

75 years

serving the automotive industry; Gross Written Premium reaches

$581,000,000

DM100_2007

Zurich Direct Markets After

26 years

of Zurich ownership, Universal Underwriters adopts the Zurich name

DM100_2010

Zurich in North America celebrates

100 years

of insuring America

Zurich Direct Markets launches Field Accelerated Success Track (FAST) Mentoring Program to promote a culture of excellence

DM100_2013

Zurich's Unicover® Transformation project moves Zurich Direct Markets onto Zurich platforms

DM100_2015

Zurich launches digital innovation commitment with

illuminate mobile app,

the next generation in F&I presentation technology

DM100_2015

Zurich F&I portfolio tops

$1 billion

in gross written premium

DM100_2018

Zurich launches The Zurich Advantage, a suite of value-added products and services, to help dealers maximize F&I profit opportunities

beyond the confines of the dealership

DM100_2021

Zurich launches suite of vehicle protection products for

Electric Vehicles

DM100_2021

Zurich leverages

40+ years

of product warranty experience through our vehicle protection products and expands into the additional market segments to diversify portfolio for long-term sustainability

DM100_2021

Zurich Direct Markets becomes a standalone business unit to better align with customer needs

DM100_2022

Zurich Insurance Group celebrates

150 years

of insuring customers in global and local markets

DM100_2022

Zurich Direct Markets celebrates

100 years

serving auto dealers

couple-with-car-50s_1000x1000

Reflections on 100 Years of Service

Hear from long-tenured customers & employees

What is it about Zurich?
What differentiates Zurich?
Why dealers choose Zurich
2011-Susan-G_500x500

100 Acts of Giving

Zurich gives back, builds toward the future.